I, too, have to reply to the 1st grade, 6-feet tall comment. HOLY (*^@! Thats insanse. God... damn............ thats .......... im speechless. Really.

He can play but he plays like he is still learning. He doesn't move like a stiff but he plays like he has no clue what to do. I think it's the speed of the NBA game.

I'm telling you guys he's like Jason Collier physically which isn't something to brag but Jason Collier is a decent player.

Neither Sundov or Bateer are better than Nazr but if anything having all these guys are gonna make training camp and pre-season as compeditive you need it to be.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Not as talented as Wang Zhizhi

I didn't know Wang Zhizhi was talented

That quote was the only thing that worries me about Bateer.

http://www.nynewsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-spknix0923,0,7082819.story?coll=nyc-sports-headlines','271'

BY GREG LOGAN
STAFF WRITER

September 23, 2004


In keeping with his leave-no-stone-unturned policy, Knicks president Isiah Thomas has reached an agreement on a non-guaranteed contract with Chinese free-agent center Mengke Bateer. Although the Knicks have the maximum 15 players with guaranteed deals, the 6-11, 290-pound Bateer could stick with a good showing in training camp because the Knicks need another big body at backup center.

Bateer played only 86 minutes in 19 games in the past two seasons with Toronto and San Antonio, but he averaged 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 15 minutes a game in the 2001-02 season with Denver. According to Jim McDowell, Bateer's U.S. agent, the 28-year-old player had comparable offers from two Western Conference teams but chose the Knicks because of the opportunity they offered.

After trading Dikembe Mutombo, the Knicks have only power forward Vin Baker and Bruno Sundov, who was released after playing only two games with them last season, to play behind starting center Nazr Mohammed. Bateer spent the past summer with China's Olympic team but saw little action behind Houston center Yao Ming.

"People are intrigued by Mengke's size and strength," McDowell said. "For him, it's a quickness issue whether he can play at the NBA level."

Knicks player personnel consultant Brendan Suhr recommended Bateer to Thomas. "The Knicks made a pretty good case for Mengke to sign with them," McDowell said. "Brendan Suhr has seen him play a lot in China and knows him well."

Bateer is expected to arrive in New York this weekend, sign a contract and begin informal workouts with the team next week before training camp opens Oct. 4. He's not a shotblocker, but could fortify their inside presence simply by virtue of his bulk.

Notes & quotes: Allan Houston, who missed 32 games last season because of problems related to surgery on his right knee, has been working out at the Knicks' training center and shoots nearly every day, but there has been no indication as to whether he will be ready for training-camp scrimmages ... Single-game tickets for home games will go on sale next Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Madison Square Garden box office, online at nyknicks.com, nba.com, thegarden.com and ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX.

Notes & quotes: Allan Houston, who missed 32 games last season because of problems related to surgery on his right knee, has been working out at the Knicks' training center and shoots nearly every day, but there has been no indication as to whether he will be ready for training-camp scrimmages ...

Still a good sign.